HC Deb 16 July 1959 vol 609 cc50-1W
Mr. Brewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what acreage of potatoes has been grown in the last two years in Cyprus and Malta, respectively; what proportion is early potatoes; and what proportion is ware potatoes.

Mr. Lennox Boyd

In Cyprus there is a summer and winter crop. There is no distinction locally between early and ware potatoes but a large part of the summer crop is exported as "early potatoes". The acreages are as follows:

—— 1957 1958
acres acres
Summer crop exported as "early potatoes" 4,707 4,273
Remainder of summer crop 2,347 2,743
Winter crop 4,273 4,772
Total annual acreage 11,327 11,788

In Malta the acreages under potatoes during the past two crop years ending 30th September were:

1957 9,000 acres
1958 8,200 acres

These areas were harvested as follows:

—— 1957 1958
Early potatoes (up to first week in June) 2,400 2,000
Ware potatoes 8,400 7,600

The acreage under ware potatoes is inclusive of the acreage under early potatoes. The remaining 600 acres are retained for seed.

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